Africa-Press – Eswatini. Senate-elect Fezeka Dlamini dodged advising the incoming government on how to combat corruption in the country.
A mix-up of topics to be presented created an awkward moment between Governor Sifiso Mashampu Khumalo and Senate-elect Dlamini, when she was supposed to present on how the country could deal with corruption. Dlamini was a panellist on the third day of Sibaya. She was given two topics to present on, which were education and corruption. Before she was given the platform to make her presentation, the governor stated that the reason she was given the two topics was because the members of the public’s presentation delved a lot on non-relevant skills that were produced by universities and colleges in the country, as well as the high level of corruption, which had set the country backwards economically.
“Some of the people who presented indicated that the University of Eswatini was producing graduates who were not industry relevant, thus making them unemployable. We would like to know what the country can do to find a link between industries and the university. Another dominant issue was corruption. Some of the speakers stated that there were efforts that were introduced to combat corruption, but what does the country need to do differently to combat corruption,” he said. Dlamini made her presentation on education and production of relevant skills. She emphasised on the need of capitalising on agriculture because the sector could accommodate everyone, whether educated or not. A scene started unfolding when she had to make a presentation on how the country could address corruption. When Khumalo asked her to address corruption, Dlamini voiced out that she hadn’t prepared herself to make a presentation on corruption.
Apologise
“I apologise mngani wemakhosi, I was told that I will present on youth unemployment and agriculture, not corruption,” she said. On the other hand, Khumalo told her that he was unaware that she was given topics, instead he was the one who was giving panellists topics, hence he advised her to start making the presentation on corruption. “Bamba Fezeka yakho leyo lana unikwa ngimi itopic. Let’s address corruption after education. Those who gave you topics were wrong, you were supposed to get the topics from me,” said Khumalo, as he was responding to Dlamini. She shocked many and at the same time gained the heart of some attendees when she started addressing the Senate elections bribery claims. She asked not to present on the topic because she was also engulfed by the same issue. “I think those who are well versed with the law can advise on how the country can deal with corruption. I think I might not be the ideal person to talk about corruption. It is a thorny issue to me as you will remember that I am one of the five women who were recently elected into Senate.
Votes
“Adding, I am also among the people accused of buying votes for the Senate seats. I would really appreciate it if you can hand over that topic to someone else because I am conflicted as well,” she said. Her honesty gained her the love of the attendees as people started lauding her. “She is very honest; that is brave of you young woman. Labanye bebatofuna kutenta ngatsi bati konkhe,” some of the women said. Dlamini was not the only person who had challenges with the topics given, as Siphocisini Member of Parliament (MP) Mduduzi Matsebula highlighted that he was also given a topic which he had not prepared himself on. He went on to state that he would continue with the topic he was given by the governor. He did not disclose the topic he had been given earlier.
Source: times
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